It is an urban phenomenon. Everybody is doing it. And everybody has been seeing it. Sneakers on livewires are dangling, all over the world. But, nobody really knows why.

Surely, like all good rumours, the whisperings have come to ears.

Some believe it is a sign of great disrespect, as in indicating that something is “beneath you.” In Middle Eastern cultures in particular, shoe flinging is a gesture of biting disapproval. In Western societies, however, the biggest correlation with hanging shoes is with troubled neighborhoods. Similar to graffiti, the connection with notorious activity is unmistakable. One popular rumor suggests that hanging shoes on power lines mark drug dealing hotspots in urban neighborhoods. Others gossip that these designate gang territory, or commemorate a fellow member. Various rites of passage are also associated with this trend. Perhaps they are tossed to signify a military milestone, a birthday, a graduation, or, a successful sexual conquest?

Sightings have been reported and photographed across the globe. To law enforcement, the festooned powerlines have become a true menace to society. The truth is out there. But, the symbolism is obvious. Strung over wires, laces slowly decomposing, the shoes are exposed to the elements, serving as a monument to the feet they once belonged to.